Described by many as a Picasso come-to-life, de Palma broke the rules of beauty in 1988 when she starred in Pedro Almodóvar’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and became a model and muse for designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, and Sybilla. Her status as an iconic fashion character was further cemented with her role in Robert Altman’s 1994 satirical fashion film Prêt-à-Porter. Today, she is a theater actress, charity spokesperson for the Ghanian Charity OrphanAid Africa, and the face of luxury ad campaigns.
Born in Palma de Mallorca, she was originally a singer and dancer for the band Peor Imposible before being discovered by filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar at a café in Madrid in 1986. He cast her in roles based on her unique, Picassoesque appearance. She is best known for her roles in Almodóvar films like La ley del deseo (Law of Desire), Kika, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) and La flor de mi secreto (The Flower of My Secret).
She acts in France and does modeling. She appeared in Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter as Pilar. In 2007, she released a perfume line under her name through the French cosmetics company Etat libre d'Orange. In 2009, she posed nude in an information campaign on breast cancer for the magazine Marie Claire. She currently lives in France with her two sons.
She was selected to be on the jury for the main competition section of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
Known For
Día de caza
Rosa
2025
The Opera! Arias for an Eclipse
Moire
2025
Dear Paris
Dolorès
2024
3 Days Max
Alba Suarez
2023
Apaches: Gang of Paris
Sarah Bernardt
2023
El viaje de Julieta
Self
2023
The House
Brigida
2022
Rainbow
2022
El refugio
2021
Jean Paul Gaultier fait son show
Self
2018
The Exchange
Dómina
2017
Lord, Give Me Patience
María Ramos
2017
En tu cabeza
Milagros (Vecina)
2016
10 Years with Bebe
self
2016
Julieta
Marian
2016
Stranded
Mercè
2015
Spy Time
Madre de Katia
2015
Just a Little Chemistry
Bárbara Sullivan
2015
French Cinema Mon Amour
Self
2015
Graziella
Graziella
2015
The Material Boy
Self
2015
Do Not Disturb
Maria
2014
Untied! Reflections on Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Self
2014
Three Many Weddings
Madre de Ruth
2013
I Don't Know Whether to Slit My Wrists or Leave Them Long
Lola
2013
&Me
Edurne's Mother
2013
Run a way
La benemérita
2012
Miss Tacuarembo
Patricia Peinado
2010
No Pasaran
Inès
2009
Broken Embraces
Julieta
2009
Les Aristos
La duchesse Maria de Malaga i Benidorm
2006
Girlfriends
La mère de Marie
2006
Have You Met Claudia?
Aldo's Claudia
2004
Double zéro
Le Monocle
2004
People - Jet set 2
Pilar
2004
Leave Your Hands on My Hips
Myriam Bardem
2003
Dead Weight
Pauline Reggio
2002
L'origine du monde
The Sphynx
2001
The Damned Rib
Margarita
1999
Nag la Bombe
Leïla
1999
The Loss of Sexual Innocence
Blind Woman
1999
Foul Play
Concepcion Alibera
1998
Talk of Angels
Elena
1998
Franchesca Page
Veronica
1998
La Femme du cosmonaute
Catherine
1997
Airbag
Carmiña, mujer de Pazos en una fotografía
1997
A Body in the Woods
Teniente Cifuentes
1996
Chicken Park
Necrophilia
1996
The Flower of My Secret
Rosa
1995
Peggio di così si muore
Myrna
1995
Prêt-à-Porter
Pilar
1994
Kika
Juana
1993
Rose rosse per una squillo
Juliette
1993
Mutant Action
Invitada de lujo
1993
Aquí, el que no corre... vuela
1992
The Family Jewels
Donatella
1991
Madonna: Truth or Dare
Self
1991
Don Juan, My Dear Ghost
Viuda de Prodini
1990
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Camello en Vespa
1990
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Marisa
1988
Le vieux juif Blonde
Voyante
Second to Nun
Madame Laduree
Pedro x Javis
2025
Estrella, cometa, satélite y planeta
2025
Honeymoon Crasher
Gloria
2025
Inside the Dream: Mugler
Self
2024
Escort Boys
Mimi · (2 episodes)
2023
The Messiah
Laia Baró (mayor) · (7 episodes)
2023
Late Xou con Marc Giró
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2023
Têtàtête(s)
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2023
Carmen
Masilda
2023
The Sweet Taste of Success
Rossy de Palma
2022
Drag Race France
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2022
Cinco Tenedores
Jueza · (1 episode)
2022
Once Upon a Time... Happily Never After
Narradora (voz) / María / Mamen · (6 episodes)
2022
Parallel Mothers
Elena
2021
Do You Do You Saint-Tropez
Carmen
2021
LOL - Last One Laughing Spain
Self · (6 episodes)
2021
Carrément craignos
Héléna · (9 episodes)
2021
La Noche D
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2021
Little Birds
Contessa Mandrax · (6 episodes)
2020
A Mermaid in Paris
Rossy
2020
The Rodriguez and the Beyond
Doctora Pilar
2019
My Brother Chases Dinosaurs
Auntie Rock / Zia Dolores
2019
I Miss You
Rosaura
2019
Despite Everything
Inés
2019
À cause des filles…?
Artémis
2019
Jean Paul Gaultier : Freak & Chic
Self
2018
¡Ay, Carmen!
Self - Actress
2018
Lo Siguiente
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
2018
Black Is Beltza
Ruth Abramson (voice)
2018
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
2018
Bailando con las estrellas
Self - Contestant · (11 episodes)
2018
Maestros de la costura
Invitada · (1 episode)
2018
La resistencia
Invitada · (1 episode)
2018
Brillantissime
Charline
2018
Toc Toc
Ana María
2017
Madame
Maria
2017
The White Princess
Isabella I of Castile · (1 episode)
2017
Dani&Flo con Lara Álvarez
Self - Interviewee · (2 episodes)
2017
Almodóvar, todo sobre ellas
Self
2016
Anchored
Palmira · (8 episodes)
2015
Love of My Loves
Carmina
2014
Planeta Calleja
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2014
Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart
Luna (voice)
2014
Me resbala
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2013
Bright Spin
Amie de Patrick
2012
Danse avec les stars
Self - Candidate · (6 episodes)
2011
Gigola
Dominique
2010
La que se avecina
María Luisa Romero · (1 episode)
2007
Caterina e le sue figlie
Estrella Toledo · (8 episodes)
2005
20 Centimeters
La Frío
2005
The Mule
La Colombienne
2000
The Worker and the Hairdresser in a Whirlwind of Sex and Politics
1996
De pé a pá
Self · (1 episode)
1996
What's It All About
Librarian
1995
Barcelona
girl in party
1994
La Machine Mode
Herself
1994
Sam's Enough
Chichi
1992
The Naked Target
Dama 2
1992
In The Rose Garden
Rosy
1990
Law of Desire
Locutora tele
1987
Bitter Christmas
Gabriela